Stepladder



L. R. PEASE May 4, 1948.

STEPLADDER Filed llarch 8, 1946 '2 Sheets-Sheet l r May 4, 1948. PEASE 2,440,831

STEPLADDER v Filed March 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 4}, 1948 STEPLADDER Lester R. Peasef'valyermo Calif. Application March 8, 1946, Se1-ial' Nof-ii52,'9 41 6 Claims. (01122847? .1 My-invention relates to stepladders, and among the objects of my invention are:

First: To provide an arrangement for stepladders of either the single or. double brace leg type whereby a person standing in front of the laddenmaygb'y operation of alever locatedat one side of the ladder. cause a device to extend the tongue or brace leg or legs of the ladder into bracingposition. (Second: To providea stepladder which enables the user to extend the ladder tongue orbrace leg or hold the, brace leg extended while maneuvering theladder into position, particularly when setting the ladder in and around trees and bushes. I

Thirdz To provide a stepladder which greatly reduces the time and effort required to place the ladder in a secure position, at the same time increasing the amount of control over the movement of the ladder, so as to minimize the possibility of damage to trees or fruit.

Fourth: To provide a control means for the tongue or brace leg of a stepladder which may be installed on an otherwise conventional tripod stepladder or on a four-legged stepladder and which in'no manner interferes with the ordinary use or handling thereof.

With the above .and other objects in 'view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a tripod stepladder equipped with my control device;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational View thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my control device as adapted to a four-legged stepladder; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View thereof through 44 ofFig. 3.

Reference is first directed to Figures 1 and 2 wherein a tripod type of stepladder incorporates my brace leg control device. The stepladder here shown comprises side rails I connected by suitable rungs or steps 2. The side rails preferably converge toward their upper ends and preferably support a platform 3. A tongue or brace leg 4 is connected by brace struts 5 to side brackets B secured to the upper ends of the rails I below the platform 3, so that the brace leg may be moved from a position substantially in the .plane of the rails I to a diverging or bracing position. The structure so far described may be entirely con ventional.

My invention is directed particularly to a means for conveniently moving the brace leg 4 to .its extendedaposition and, if desired, hold the brace 'leg intssuch position: "This .is accomplished byanactuator:tI-wjournaled in bearings I2 secured-to the reariedges of-the' rails I neartheir upper extremities-. who actuator includes a pair of converginglarms 15' which" are :bent' parallelly to .th'e axisof the bearings I2 at their adjacent portions'and receivea roller I4. :The actuator is adapted'to ivornom a depending position, sub" stantially fiush'witnthe :rea'r edges o'fthel rails, t'o'an extended position s'o'as to push outwardly on'the bracedeg l ari'dfimovethe brace leg to its extended position.

One -extremity of the actuator A s ringer! is suitabIy located to return the actuator" -I I= -t"o its retractedkposition shown 'by solid lines in f1.--The spring-2B may be connected between the extremity of 'theiever arm and aria-T161101 otherwise pldcd-- fl as to urge the actuator to"- wardns'ndrm retractedpsition. Ah additional spring? nchordtothesideraill may be conrfedtd' wan arm f2 2 extendingfrom the hand "lever treat-asses return movement 'of the hand lever to its retracted position, particularly if cable is employed as the linking means It.

In order to minimize wear and provide more elficient operation of the actuator, a striker plate 23 is mounted on the brace leg in the region thereof engaged by the roller I4.

Reference is now directed to Figures 3 and 4. The stepladder here shown has two, in place of one, brace legs 24 hinged to suitable brackets 25 under the platform 3. An actuator 26 is substituted for the actuator l I, in this case the actuator including a connecting shaft 21 extending between the bearings l2. At one end is provided the lever I5. Also secured to the shaft 2! are lever arms 28 which engage corresponding legs 24 as lever I5 is pulled downward. If desired, striker plates and rollers similar to the striker plate 23 and roller I4 may be employed.

A spring 29 is connected between one Of the lever arms associated with the shaft 21; for example, one of the arms 28. The lever I5 is actuated in the same manner as the first structure; namely, by means of cable I6 and hand lever I I.

My ladder is employed as follows:

When setting up the ladder, one stands in front of the ladder, tilts it toward him, steadying II is provided with' a fleiier arm 45 which is connected ey a irod tbto a hand lever I 1 journaled irovidedunder-the platform e or released, and the actuator H or 26, as the case may be, returns to its retracted position. By this means the necessity of standing between the ladder and the brace leg or legs is obviated. This is highly desirable inasmuch as the region between the ladder and the brace leg or legs is often occupied by the branches of the tree, adjacent to which it is necessary to place the ladder in order to pick fruit.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. The combination, with a stepladder having rails, step rungs, a platform at the upper end ofthe rails and at least one braceleg'pivotally connected therewith about an axis adjacent to said platform, of means for operating said brace leg comprising: a crank arm journaled on said rails under said platform and movable into engagement with said brace leg to urge the leg rearwardly; a lever arm connected with said crank arm; a hand lever pivotally mounted on one of said rails for access from the front side of the ladder; and means operatively connecting said-lever arm'and said hand lever.

2. The combination, with a stepladder having rails, step rungs, a platform at the upper end of the rails and at least one brace leg pivotally connected therewith about an axis adjacent-to said platform, of: a crank arm in the form of' an open loop; bearing means on said rails journaling'the extremities of the crank arm whereby the midportion thereof may be swung to and -fr om the brace leg; a hand lever located on one of said rails accessible from the front sideof the ladder;

and means operatively connecting said hand lever with said crank arm for urging the mid-portion thereof into engagement withsaid brace leg to swing the brace leg into bracing position.

3. A stepladder comprising: rails, rungs connecting the rails and at least onebrace leg pivotally connected to the upper extremities of said rails; means journaled on said rails at their upper ends and movable into engagement with said brace leg to urge said brace leg into a bracing position; a hand lever accessible from the front of the ladder; and a connecting device operatively joining said means and aid lever.

4. A stepladder comprising: rails, rungs connecting the rails and at least one brace leg pivotally connected to the upper extremities of said rails; means journaled on said rails at their upper ends and movable into engagement with said brace leg to urge said brace leg into a bracing position; a hand lever accessible from the front of the ladder; a connecting device operatively joining'said means and said lever; and a spring normally holding said means retracted from said brace leg.

5. A stepladder comprising: rails, rungs connecting the rails and at least one brace leg pivotally connected to the upper extremities ofsaid rails; an upper lever journaled on at least one of said rails for engagement with said brace leg to move said brace leg to an extended position; a lower lever mounted on one of said rails and accessible from the front side of said ladder; and means operatively connecting said levers.

6. A stepladder comprising: rails, rungs connecting the rails and at least one brace leg pivotally connected to the upper extremities of said rails; an upper lever journaled on at least one of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 226,935 Smart Apr. 27, 1880 861,583 Foster July 30, 1907 

